Easter

Gianna dressed up in her Easter dress (A dress gifted by her Nana over a year ago. It's been a loooong wait on that dress for Gianna!).  Bode rolled out of bed and put on his favorite Earth shirt and leggings.  Everybody wore Easter Bunny ears.  And everybody (except Nico) immediately started eating the candy out of their baskets. The Easter Bunny left jelly beans,  chocolate bunnies, and 2 Peeps in Bode and Gianna's baskets, along with a jump rope.  Nico got a basket with a ball (that had an Easter Bunny on it). 

While the children were looking through their baskets, RWF was outside hiding eggs. At one point, Bode looked out the window and yelled, "Hi, Daddy!" and I quickly told him to sit down and "count your candy!" or something silly like that.  I don't think he knew what RWF was doing, but I didn't want him to catch on...because it's supposed to be an Easter Bunny thing, not a Daddy thing.

Bode and Gianna were so polite to each other during the Easter Egg hunt. They turned into acquaintances before our eyes, saying, "Here, you go first..." and each of them deciding that a blue one was meant for Bode, and a pink egg was meant for Gianna. "Here, Gianna, I found a pink one for you!" I don't know where they got that but it was so funny. And they would give each other eggs so easily...not worrying about how much each one had.  Well, except at the end, when Bode announced, "Mommy, I have MORE eggs than Gianna, right?" (He didn't but we all eventually agreed to agree that everyone had the right amount of eggs.)   

I made a simple Easter dinner (late lunch) of ham, roasted potatoes and green beans. Nobody wanted deviled eggs and so I left those off, too.  I thought a lot of my mom while I was cooking.  I really miss her every day, but a lot more during holidays. For his first real Easter meal, Nico ate everything except the ham. He had nothing on his tray except for the tiny bites of ham I had put there. He kept screeching at the table.  I kept offering things but he  would answer "No," and then screech again. Exasperated, I said, "I don't know what you want!"  Finally, RWF took a slice of ham and gave it to Nico.   Nico immediately started eating it, caveman style. He then demanded another piece once he had finished his first slice of ham.  

It was interesting to watch our children morph from mild-mannered, cheerful beings into screechy, whiney monsters! (Not judging anyone but this is why I do not give my children candy! It was actually painful as the day wore on and RWF & I swore again and again, "no more candy!") The plastic eggs containing candy were not opened until the 2nd day. It was Gianna who discovered that opening the eggs revealed - surprise! - more candy. (we certainly weren't going to tell them!)

Gianna ate much more candy on the sly (no surprise there) whereas Bode hoarded his candy and did not eat much (no surprise there, either).  I think Gianna had 3 jelly beans left, and Bode's basket was still filled with all kinds of candy. 

We let them eat and keep their candy for 2 days.  And then, it magically disappeared (into the trash).  Monday night, I went around the house and gathered all Easter items and stored or threw them away. The next morning, I was bracing myself for whining and questions, but nothing happened. It was almost as if they were 'done' with Easter, too.

RWF and I both really, really missed family this year.  We talked a lot about our New York Easters and decided that we needed to invite family over for a visit every year.  You're invited! Make your plans now!

Happy Easter & happy Spring!

xo

Easter

Where to begin?  We had a lovely Easter.  In the morning, RWF and I walked up to the babies' rooms together and got them up.  They were both happy. We walked downstairs to see if the Easter Bunny had actually come to our house.  I was a bit of a tease, walking Bode around every room and saying, "Hmm. No, it doesn't look like he was here...."  until we reached the playroom.  Then I stopped dramatically and GASPED.  Bode peered around the corner and didn't see anything but his usual toys. He walked into the room, looking around and said, "No, not here either..." and I said, "Bode, look!"  There by the fireplace, the Easter Bunny had left two baskets.  Hooray!

This year was a first because Bode got candy!  I struggled with the idea for the longest time. Every time we read a certain Easter book that described the chocolate bunnies, marshmallow chicks and jelly beans that the Easter Bunny puts in baskets, Bode would get a shy smile on his face and quietly say, "I wonder if the Easter Bunny is going to reave me dose dings."  RWF and I discussed, and RWF was game, so I bought some Jelly Bellys and Peeps for Bode's basket.  We filled two plastic eggs with a few Jelly Bellys and then tossed some more in Bode's basket grass for good measure. I also bought two "panoramic eggs" because I was feeling very nostalgic.  We used to get them in our baskets in my family.  Do you remember them?  They are sugar eggs with a window that you can look inside of. There is usually a flower or a chick inside (made of more sugar!).  I just wanted Bode and Gianna to have that part of my childhood.  I had a really emotional time shopping for Easter this year.  All the candy and decorations reminded me of my mother.  And I spent a lot of time thinking about Easters past, and how our Easter baskets were always so wonderful, packed full of candy.

Then our family came over for a lunch and quality baby time.  Of course it looked like Christmas, because our family can not visit without bestowing gifts on these two monkeys.  And there were a ton of delicious desserts!  You know that there were a ton of sweets if I can honestly tell you that I have no desire to eat chocolate right now. 

Bode and I made a forsythia branch to decorate the playroom.  I found the craft in Highlights magazine and thought it would be a cheerful decoration for Spring/Easter.  We went outside and gathered a bunch of branches out of our yard.  But we ended up only doing one branch, because Bode quickly grew bored of the craft.   It is a neat craft, and if I have a few spare minutes, I'd like to continue working on it. 

Gianna could care less about the Easter Bunny or the Easter basket at this age. She was more interested in dumping the contents out of her basket and then spreading the Easter grass all over the playroom floor!

Bode looked very happy.  Both babies got sidewalk chalk, bubbles, a pinwheel, a book, and a panoramic egg.  When Bode saw the Jelly Bellys and Peeps, he shyly asked, "What's dis? What do I do with dis?" Oh, he knows!  We told him what they were and then he asked, "Can I eat them?"   I said, "You can eat one jelly bean now."  But he's a bit timid about trying new things (even sugar!) so he didn't try it until he sat down for breakfast.  Here is what his breakfast plate looked like (I didn't do this, he did!):

Hard-boiled egg and Jelly Bellys = breakfast of champions

We spent the day with our family, enjoying each other's company (we do not see each other often enough), gathering around the table for lunch, having a quick egg hunt, and then enjoying coffee & dessert afterwards. Easter was a day of sunshine, laughter, and love.  Perfect!

Happy Easter, Passover, and Spring!

xo

Uncle Craig and Gianna = BFF

Aunt Dawnie's  cake pops

Aunt Debbie's egg baskets

Aunt Mary Lou's grain pie and Aunt Dawnie's cheesecake

Nana's cookies

Me and my little chickie

My boy

Hippity, hoppity...

This morning, we went to an Easter egg hunt.  It was held at a park, and hosted by my mom's group. I did nothing for it except get up this morning, iron a shirt and pants for Bode, dress my children and myself. I didn't even drive us over there. Bob did that. I really need to help these moms out. They are so great at putting together these events. I used to volunteer all the time, before babies. So, here it is, in writing: I commit to volunteering for an event hosted by the moms group in the near future.

First, Bode got some bunny ears.





Then we checked out  the park (a new park, for us).

He turns 2 1/2, and all he wants to do is RUN.

The lovely G

The "music" portion of the event took place.  We sang "Here Comes Peter Cottontail," and I laughed, watching Bode and the other children trying to hop-hop-hop down the bunny trail. While we sang songs, some of the moms and dads hid the Easter eggs.

A supportive audience.



I see a guitar in his future.



Last year, at his first Easter egg hunt, Bode was just barely toddling.  He saw the eggs, but didn't know what he was supposed to do with them. He had difficulty holding his Easter basket, navigating the ground, and  putting eggs in his basket. It is neat to look back on that time and think of the changes that have taken place (those developments so quickly forgotten). This year, Bode had no difficulty carrying his basket as he ran around the park. He had no trouble finding the eggs, picking up the eggs and putting the eggs in his basket. He found his allotted amount in no time, announcing, "Oh, dere's one..." in his sweet little voice, as he bent over to pick up a plastic egg.

After the egg hunt, we sat for a little show put on by another one of the moms. She always makes up her own stories, acting the story out with stuffed animals and puppets. She uses simple props that she makes herself, like a leaf made out of green construction paper, a cave made out of tissue paper and a shoe box, etc.  The children are always transfixed (and I am, too). So, here it is, in writing: I resolve to find my "creative niche" this year.





I met another mom there who immediately started talking about how "beautiful" Gianna is,  as she nursed her own beautiful 5 month old baby. We chatted for a few minutes, and then she asked, "Did you want a girl?"  I didn't  hesitate for a second before replying, "No, I wanted another boy."  I said this while I held my precious girl in my arms.  She admitted that she wanted another girl (instead of the baby boy that she held).  Is this an unusual conversation? I don't know. I can say that I said this without reservation; no fear of being judged for my answer.  And I admit this freely here because I believe that everyone knows that Gianna is a blessing to me (along with Bode, of course).  I just had no idea how special a little girl is, but now I am seeing it every day. And I'm enjoying watching Bob and his little girl interact, too. Bob is more of a "daddy" than I ever imagined. He is just so great with both babies. He has such a wonderful relationship with Bode. I can't wait to see what kind of dynamic he has with Gianna as she gets older. And the same goes for me:  I have two little people to love, and I can't wait to see how our relationships evolve over time.





Every night, we read stories about Easter. I'm not sure  if the Easter bunny has sunk in. I may be wrong, but I think that Bode doesn't realize that the Easter bunny is going to drop a basket of Easter goodies for him and Gianna. I have already started on Bode's Easter basket and I can't wait to see his reaction. We have our PAAS egg dye and eggs at the ready. I bought two PAAS egg dye kits. I've got it on hand in case we need an "emergency" activity for a rainy day. Or maybe I bought two kits because I'm a big kid and can't wait to color eggs. Hippity, hoppity, Easter's on its way.  Are you ready?